Storing and comparing arrangement for collating and the like machines



y 20, 1952 K. A. KNUTSEN 2, 7

STORING AND COMPARING ARRANGEMENT FOR COLLATING AND THE LIKE MACHINES Filed Dec. 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet l 12/22. a? as 9 55 9 -11 i I l l l I l l Aj 7 44/)48 54; 41/0 rsgy May 20, 1952 Filed Dec. 16, 1950 K. A. KNUTSEN STORING AND- COMPARING ARRANGEMENT COLLATING AND THE LIKE MACHINES 6 Sheets-Shet 2 6/ f Arx Zea; 471 716 May 20, 1952 K. A. KNUTSEN 2,597,647

STORING AND COMPARING ARRANGEMENT FOR COLLATING AND THE LIKE MACHINES FiledDec. 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 nuunnn nciu u uunnuu our:

DDUUDCI UDIJ veru' +80 IAN/71706 4. 440.054: IfI YUTQ Y M I m g1 May 20, 1952 K. A. KNUTSEN 2,597,647

STORING AND COMPARING ARRANGEMENT FOR COLLATING AND THE LIKE MACHINES F iled Dec. 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 4C a; m n

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May 20, 1952 K. A. KN UTSEN STORING AND COMPARING ARRANGEMENT FOR COLLATING AND THE LIKE MACHINES Filed Dec. 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 20, 1952 K. A. KNUTSEN 2,597,647

STORING AND COMPARING ARRANGEMENT FOR COLLATING AND THE LIKE MACHINES Filed Dec. 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I/vws/rro/a Mar 1Q 5145 Mara n Patented May 20, 1952 STORING AND COMPARING ARRANGEMENT FOR COLLATIN G AND THE LIKE MACHINES Knut Andreas Knutsen, Paris, France, assignor to Compagnie des Machines Bull (Societe Anonyme), Paris, France, a company of France Application December 16, 1950, Serial No. 201,142 In France December 29, 1949 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to storage and comparing arrangements for collating and the like machines, and more particularly to electronic arrangements for the storage and comparing of record cards for re-sorting the cards in said machines.

Such machines are well known and are employed especially to re-constitute a card index when some of the cards have been extracted therefrom. In such cases there are two stacks of cards respectively according to the index numbers which the cards bear, these cards being designated primaries (P) and secondaries (S), respectively. A collating machine therefore comprises a hopper and a feed track for the primary cards and similar elements for the secondary cards. The means for feeding forward the primary and secondary card tracks are started by electromagnetic clutches, either separately or simultaneously, as a function of the comparison or data or indices on the cards, The cards then pass through forward feed members which lead the cards to a common receptacle.

Generally, the known storage and comparing devices comprise relays co-operating with distributors or commutators. They have a certain inertia owing to the relays and necessitate control of relatively great energy. This results in a limitation of the speed of operation of the machine, and wear on the different contacts, distributors and the like, necessitating appreciable maintenance work.

One object of the present invention is to obviate these disadvantages by replacing the storage or registering relays by gas-filled electron tubes and by replacing the comparison relays by high-vacuum electron tubes, a limited number of relays being provided to control the operating members. Such an arrangement permits of a reduction in the overall dimensions of the storage and comparing devices, and in the cost of production, by reason of the fact that the electron tubes replacing the relays are actually much smaller in number than the relays, while being substantially equivalent in cost per element.

According to the invention there is provided a storage and comparing arrangement applicable to a collating machine for re-sorting record cards bearing data or index numbers in the form of perforations or marks representing by their position the numerical value of the said indices, the storage circuits comprising thyratrons and being adapted to translate the time-controlled impulses resulting from the reading of the indices, into momentarily stable electric parameters representing the numerical value of the indices read. (The expression momentarily stable must be understood as meaning that the electric parameters obtained remain sufficiently constant for sufficient time to permit the subsequent operation of the machine.) For this purpose, in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the invention, a storage circuit comprises a rotary multiple switch or the like controlling a thyratron corresponding to the digit in question read from the index, said thyratron being one of a series of identical thyratrons having different anode resistances of graded values, or of any equivalent thyratron arrangement providing a parameter (voltage or'current) of variable value and preferably proportional to the said read digit corresponding to the said storage circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a storage and comparing arrangement, as above, which is applicable to collating machines (functioning cyclically) which deals with cards separated into primary and secondary stacks, in which arrangement the electric parameters representing the primary and secondary indices are transmitted to the comparing circuits comprising high-vacuum electron tubes associated in groups of two with a member having a differential electromagnetic action, so as to actuate the primary and secondary feed members differently according to whether the primary parameters are greater than, lower than or equal to the secondary parameters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a storage and comparing arrangement of the type referred to, in which the two tubes of one comparing group have their cathodes connected to a common impedance which supplies the polarising voltage in the inoperative position and effects a limitation of the total anode current of the two tubes by a total negative feedback and balancing effect regardless of the relative values of the parameters applied separately to the control grids of the said tubes.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect. two embodiments will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limitative example, the embodiments each being applicable to a collating machine suitably modified and of the type described in the specification of United States patent application No. 716,796 filed December 17, 1946.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a machine to which the invention may be applied, the card receptacles, the feed devices and the reading devices, being illustrated,

Figures 2a and. 2b, when assembled along the lines A--B, show one form of the circuit diagram according to the invention,

Figures Sci-and 3b, when assembled along the lines CD, show an alternative form of circuit diagram according to the invention.

Figures 4 and 5 show control tables for the cam-operated contacts of the machine, corresponding to the first and second embodiments respectively, and

Figures 6 and 7 show how Figuresla, 2b and 3a, 3b respectively are to be assembled.

Before the storage and comparing arrangement is described, it is necessary to recall clearly how the machine is started and the card are read. The members necessary for these operations will only be briefly described since a complete and detailed description thereof has been given in the afore-mentioned prior patent specification. The values of the voltages or other practical values indicated are given merely by way of illustration.

It will first benoted that in the accompanying drawings these parts or circuits which are also illustrated in the drawings of the said prior patent specification, have not been modified and have retained similar reference numerals. However, since none of the original elements bearing the numerals 500 to 599 is shown in the accompanyin'g drawings, these numerals are employed for the new parts and circuits necessary for carryin the present invention into effect.

The right-hand part of Figurel shows a hopper 356 for the'primary cards. 358 is a picker mechanically coupled to the primary-shaft which also actuates feed rollers 39, 49, 53, 65, II with their associated pressure rollers, and contact-' cylinders 44 and 59.

When a primary cycle is to be started, an electric impulse actuates an electromagnetic clutch which thereupon couples the primary shaft to a main shaft I (Figure 1) for one revolution of the latter shaft. The picker 358 feeds a card through the'outlet of the hopper; the card is then driven by the rollers 39 and is stopped first before reaching the reading brush BPI. The extent of this movement constitutes what will be referred to as a cyclic space. If a second impulse is fed to the clutch, another primary cycle is started. The first card,'carried along by the rollers, passes under the reading brush BPI and is stopped shortly before reaching the'reading brush BPZ while a second card takes the place of the first. If a third impulse actuates the electromagnetic clutch, the first card passes under the reading brush BPZ, while the following cards are also advanced through one cyclic space. After the third primary cycle, the first primary card is stopped between the rollers 65 and II. A fourth cycle is required to enable this card to reach the rollers I 49, I44, I12, etc. (Figure 1) which rotate constantly, being driven by the main shaft I, and which drive the said card into receptacle I03, the card being guided by a number of deflectors which need not be described here.

The elements of the seconary track are identical with those of the primary track, but may differ in number. There is one secondary card hopper 355, and onepicker 351, but only three driving rollers II4, I30, I24, with cooperating pressure rollers. Contact rollers 601 and I35 cooperate with the reading brushes BSI and BS2.

The secondary track is continued by feed rollers I59, I56, I65, etc. controlled by the main shaft. It will therefore be seen that as soon as a secondary card has passed the reading brush BS2, it is taken up by the roller I59 and immediately conducted to a receptacle which may, in this case, be the compartment I33.

In this machine, mean are provided to ensure that during the comparison of data or indices on a primary card and secondary card the card bearing the index of lower denomination is advanced during the following cycle, while the other card remains in position until the arrival of a card having a higher index. In this way, a stack of cardssorted in numerical order, is collected in the receptacle I82. When two cards of similar index are compared, they are simultaneously fed forward in the following cycle, so that they are situated one above the other in the general track. (It will be noted that the record cards dealt with here have a single perforation situated in different indicating positions 9 to 0, to represent the numerical value of a digit.)

The reading circuits of the machine can be seen in the lowerpart of Figure 2b, which shows the contact rollers 44, 59, 601 and I35, against which bear the brushes of the reading contacts BPI, BPZ, BSI, and BS2. Two distributors I1 and III, constantly driven by the main shaft, close their contacts as the perforations of the cards pass-below the reading brushes. The camoperated contacts CPS, CPI, CS6 and CS1 only permit closing of the reading circuits at those points of the cycle at which analysis of a perforation may take place. Contacts CCPI and CCSI and 2 are controlled by card levers situated at the first and second stations of the primary and secondary reading tracksrespectively. The latter contacts are intended to indicate, by energising the relays 324, 325, 326 and 321, when one of them is closed, that a card i passing or is about to pass the correponding reading station.

The operation of the members for starting the machine and for effecting the comparison, will nowbe described with reference to the upper part of Figure 2a. These members are exactly the same as those-described in the above-mentioned prior patent specification. It is to be recalled that, for the primarysecondary comparison, use is madeof the reading stations BSI and BI -2 (the reading stations B52 and BPI serving purposes other than those envisaged in the presentdescription). This arrangement has been retained for the. purposes of the present description and can be seen from Figure 212 by the plug connections 5G4, 595, 586, 50'! to the sockets of the reading brushes BSI and 3P2.

It will be seen that during a primary-secondary comparison the reading of a pair of primary and secondary cards, fed simultaneously from their respective hoppers, is effected with a displacement of one cyclic space. That is to say, of two cards passing simultaneously to the stations BPI and BSI, only the secondary card is read and stored, and of two cards passing at the same time to the stations BP2 and BS2 only the primary card is read and stored.

Referring again to Figure 2a, there will be seen the coils EAP, EAS of the primary and secondary clutch electromagnets. When the motor of the machine is in operation and is driving the general shaft, the feeding of the cards is started by an initial depression of button M. The depression of this button has the effect of closing the following circuit:

Terminal 0 or earth. contact MI, relay 3M, terminal +48. The relay 30!, being energised, closes its holding contacts 30m, whereby a holding circuit is made for the said relay in conjunction with the cam-operated contacts CPI and CSI (closed upon stopping of the corresponding primary and secondary shafts). Relay 30l also closes its contacts 30Ib, 30lc. When the button M is released, the contact M2 (which had been open) is closed again and establishes circuits for simultaneously energising the electromagnetics EAS and EAP. The first circuit is as follows: terminal 0 connected to earth, contacts M2, 3ND, 303a, CG4, 3010, 321d, 3030, electromagnet EAS, terminal +48. CG4 is closed on stopping of the feed at the point 15 of the cycle (see Figure 4), 321d is closed since there is still no card under the reading brush BS2, and the control of the contacts 303a, b and c is of no interest at present. The second circuit comprises: terminal 0, contacts M2, 30H), 303a,

CG4, socket 6I9, rider 6H5, contacts RPd, RSd, socket 384, plug connection 311, relay 334, and

terminal +48. Energisation of relay 334 causes the closing of the contacts 334a, 3341; and 3340 and permits energisation of the electromagnet EAP by the following circuit: earth, cam-operated contact 0G5, contact 3340, rider 44!, line EAP, contact 303b, electromagnet EAP, terminal +48.

Thus a primary card and a secondary card are simultaneously fed forward through one cyclic space and stopped short off their first reading brushes. In fact, CPI and CSI have been opened during the course of this cycle, and this has broken the holding circuit of the relay 3!!! and prevented the cam-operated contacts C64 and 065 from again feeding the clutch electromagnets. Further depression of the button is therefore necessaryv By the same processes as before, energisation of the clutch electromagnets brings about the movement of the first pair of primary and secondary cards to a position short off the reading brushes 3P2, BS2, while another pair of cards is also fed forward through one cyclic space. In the course of this cycle, the reading of the first secondary card is effected by BS1; the storage of the index read is effected and a comparison, the process of which will later be seen, takes place at the end of the cycle. Owing to the fact that the first primary card has not yet been read and its index stored, the second ary index is necessarily higher (the case of the index 0 being excluded). It is sufficient to know for the moment that this comparison will result in the opening of the contact RSd and the closing of Rse. On release of the button M, a single circuit will be formed, namely: terminal 0, M2, 301b, 303a, 0G4, H9, 616, RPd, RSe, 385, 318, relay 335, and terminal +48. The closing of the contacts 3350 permits the feeding of the electromagnet EAP by 0G5 and the rider 45 I, while the circuit for EAS cannot be made by the opening .of the contacts 321d resulting from the presence of a secondary card just in front of BS2. Thus, in the following cycle only the primary feed will be actuated, and the first primary card will be read and its index stored and then compared with the secondary index stored in the second cycle. From this instant, the feed cycles can automatically succeed one another owing to the simultaneous closing of the contacts 3240, 325e,

3260 and 3210, as long as there are cards in the reading positions.

The first form of the storage and comparing arrangement will now be described with reference to Figures 2a and 2b. Figure 2b shows, in addition to the reading circuits (at the bottom ofthe figure), the storage or registering circuits (at the top). The storage circuits have only been shown for indices comprising two digits, namely a row of units and a row of tens. Actually, the operation of the machine envisaged in the first embodiment allows of the dealing with indices containing a greater number of digits, limited by the process of comparison provided. It is sufiicient to add an adequate number of storage or registering circuits to have as many such circuits as unit orders which can be employed in the machine.

Each of the storage or registering circuits U (units) and D (tens) is composed of two groups of members, namely one group for the primary indices (P) and one identical group for the secondary indices (S). For this reason, the description of one group will be applicable to both.

A group comprises a multiple switch or commutator connected by means of a plug connection to a reading brush or corresponding order, and a series of thyratron circuits. The multiple switch or commutator may be of any convenient form and, more particularly, in accordance with the construction described in the prior patent specifi-cation already referred to. In any case, the switch must comprise a common segment 605 (Figure 2b) preferably of circular form, a series of contact studs 63L and a rotary member or brush 88 which establishes a connection between the common segment and each of the studs successively, when it is in motion.

The brush must be driven synchronously, on the one hand with the distributors I1 and Ill, and on the other hand with the card-feed rollers so that when a perforation 9 is analysed, the brush is situated on a stud representing the value 9 and so on for the other values of the perforations. During one feed cycle, the brush de scribes a complete revolution.

The common segment of the units of the primary cards (Figure 2b) is connected by the plug connection 504 to the reading brush BPZ for the units.

The thyratrons of each group are employed to convert the time-controlled impulses resulting from the reading of the indices into electric parameters representing by their magnitude the numerical value of the said indices and to pre serve the parameters throughout the time necessary for the subsequent comparison or comparisons.

It will be recalled that a thyratron is a gasfilled electron tube having at least one cathode, a control grid and an anode and that when the state of conduction is initiated, for a certain range of voltage values, the control grid no longer acts on the anode current, which can only be cut off by suppressing the anode voltage or by breaking the anode circuit. Moreover, during conduction the voltage drop across the anodecathode space is constant for a given type of thyratron and the current delivery depends only on the external circuits. I

A group comprises nine thyratrons to which are allocated the values 1 to 9. (Certain only of the thyratrons are shown in Figure 2b for the sake of clarity.) For example, the primary storage group comprises thyratrons TIP to TSP. Their cathodes are connected to earth through a common resistance RKUP. Each of the grids is connected directly to one contact stud of the associated multiple-switch, each stud controllin an impulse, the numerical value of which corresponds to that of the thyratron. Thus, the grid-of the thyratron TSP can receive :a time impulse 9, the grid ofTSP a time impulse 8, and so on. If it be assumed that the zeros arenot punched on the cards, there are no thyratrons for this value. In the inoperative position, that is to say, during the non-conductive state of all the thyratrons of the group. the potential of'tho grids is fixed at a negative value with respect-to the cathodes which are at this instant at zero potential. For this reason, each of the grids is connected to terminal P01 (Figure 2a) through individual resistances RG1 .RRGZP, etc., each of which resistances is connected to a common. connection 568.

'High tension voltage is applied to the anodes through the conductor 515 (Figure 2b) and resistances RAIJP, RAP etc. The values of these resistances are unequal and are so selected that they determine, in each of the thyratrons which they control, different current deliveries which are a function of the numerical value allocated to the associated thyratron. For example the .reSistance.RA9.P can be made the weakest-of the group; the resistance RA'LP will then be the highest. When T9.P is rendered operative, the anode current delivered is greater than that delivered by TSLP which is greater than that delivered by T'LP and so on up to TLP when the latter is rendered operative. When any one of the thyratrons of the group is conductive, a potential difference is set up across the terminals of the resistance RKILP, thepc-sitive pole being opposite to earth. It is clear that when T93? is conductive, the voltage set up across the tervurinals of RKUJ? is higher than when TLP is "conductive. The resistances RAZP to RAEEP have values intermediate between those of RAl .P

and RASP. Consequently, owing to the selection of the .thyratrons effected by the associated multiple switch and owing to the anode resistances of different values, it is possible to obtain :a stable direct current voltage across the ter h,

CS! (lower part of Figure 2b) are fed independently of the relays by the connection 51! to the positive terminal 8%. It will be assumed that a primary card is analysed at the position BPZ, when a perforation passes under the reading brush of the units order, for example, the voltage +80 is transmitted to the grid of one of the primary thyratrons through the circuit: positive terminal '80 (Figures 2q'2b), connection 5H, cam-operated-contact CPG or CF16, contact of the distributor 11, contact 3251), general brush 623, contact cylinder, hole of the card, units brush, plug connection 504, multiple switch (common segment, brush contact stud correspending to the perforation) and grid of one of the thyratrons thus selected. The making of this circuit corresponds to the sending of a positive impulse and during this impulse the thyratron selected becomes conductive and remains For this'purpose, the cam-operated contacts (3P6, CPl, CS6 and conductive as long as the anode circuit is not broken.

The appearance of a positive continuous .voltage (across the terminals of RKUP) proportional to the numerical value of an analysed perforation constitutes, therefore, the storage of the said value. The storage of the perforations by the secondary units group takes place identically and it'will be appreciated that if the elements 01 the secondary group have exactly the same values as the corresponding elements of the primary group the analysis of equivalent perforations at the positions BP2 and BSI must set up equal voltages across the terminals of the resistances RKUP, RKU.S, etc., and that comparison of these voltages is possible for detecting which is the largest in the case of inequality. The storage of the value corresponding to the perforations by the groups of the other orders of unit takes place identically and simultaneously for each unit order.

It therefore remains to consider the comparison circuits. These are composed essentially (see Figure 2a) of two high-vacuum electron tubes VP and VS, a differential polarised relay 500, two comparison relays RP and RS and finally changeover devices CGP and CGS (upper part of Figure 2b).

The two tubes VP and VS are pentodes having imilar characteristic curves. Trioclesor tetrodes could also be employed for this purpose. The control grids are, during the inoperative period, at earth or zero potential owing to their respective connection to the resistances 5H and 512, the other end of which is earthed. The grids are also each connected by a wire '5l3 and SM to the change-over devices CGP and CGS (see Figure 2b), the contacts of which are all open in the inoperative position. The'anodes of the pentodes VP and VS receive the high tension of the connection 5:8 (leading to the positive terminal 2H1) through the respective coils of the differential relay 558. These two coils must be so constructed that when they are traversed by equal currents (which is the case when VP and VS are in operative) the magnetic fluxes produced cancel one another out so that the armature 5! remains in its position of equilibrium. The sensitivity of the system must be such in practice that a difference of a few mA is sufllcient to produce the attraction of the armature 5M in one direction or the other.

The screens of VP and VS receive the high tension directly through the connection 5l8. The cathodes are connected together and the cathode circuit is closed on a commonresistance 5!!! con nected to earth. This resistance produces in well known manner that negative polarisation of the grid which determines the anode delivery of the valves VP and VS in the inoperative position. However, this self-polarising system applied to two direct-current amplifier valves in opposition is somewhat special, since it superposes effects of total negative feedback and balancing and affords advantages which will later become apparent. Moreover, the polarised differential relay 500 is provided with an armature SUI having a fixing point 593 connected to the relay. The armature carries an insulating rod 502 which extends transversely across the said armature to control contacts 506a and 59Gb. When the anode current VP is greater than the anode current supplied by VS, the armature 501 is attracted to the left (as viewed in Figure 2a). It is attracted to the right in the contrary case. These are the movements of the said armature which produces the result of the comparison which is effected in the following manner:

It has already been stated that the grids of the tubes VP and VS are connected respectively to the change-over systems CGP and CGS. These are composed of cam-operated contacts equal in number to the unit orders of the indices to be compared. The cams which control them are actuated by the general shaft of the machine in synchronism with the other distributing and feeding parts. These cams are so adjusted as to obtain the closing times indicated by the table of Figure 4, lines CGP, CGSU-DC--MDM- CM (representing the difierent unit orders, extending from the units to the hundred thousands) n the machine in question, owing to the division of the cycle into sixteen points or intervals it is scarcely possible in practice to eifect more than six successive comparisons between the end of the reading phase and the exploitation of the comparison. It will be seen from the upper part of Figure 2b, that the fixed blades (for example) of the cam-operated contacts CGP are connected together and by the connection |3 to the control grid of VP (Figure 2a). The opposite blades are individually connected to the resistances located in the cathode return circuits of the groups of thyratrons, namely CGP.U to the upper terminal of KRUP, CGRD to the upper terminal of RKD.P, and so on to CGRCM (not shown) corresponding to the hundred thousands. The connection of the cam-operated contacts CGS to the tube VS and to the cathode resistances of the secondary thyratrons is identical.

The table of Figure 4 shows that the camoperated contacts U, D, C, M, DM, CM are successively closed in accordance with decreasing unit orders, CM being closed first and U last. In this way, priority of comparison is granted to higher unit orders.

The members for exploiting the comparison comprise the comparison relay RP (Figure 2a) which is energised by the closing of the contact when the armature SM is moved to the left (in the case of primary superiority) and the relay RS which is energised by the closing of the contact 500a when the armature 5lll is moved to the right (in the case of secondary superiority) Since the energisation of each of the relays must be maintained, they control their respective holding contacts RH: and R311 both of which are connected in series with the cam-operated contact CGI3 which opens at the end of each cycle.

The comparison relays also control the following contacts:

RPB and f and RS3 and I (Figure 2a, lower part) inserted respectively in the connections 5 and 5I3, thus controlling the grids of the tubes Vs and VP. Thus, priority of the higher order is complete, since, assuming, for example, that when the contact CM of CGP and CM of CGS is closed (Figure 2b), a primary card P is of higher index than a secondary card S, the energisation of RP (Figure 2a) produces the opening of its contacts RPB and I, thus break-- ing the circuits between the cam-operated contacts CGS and CGP and the grids of VS and VP. In this way, only the comparison of the order of the hundred thousands is effective, since for the following lower orders the positive voltages emanating from the cathodes of the thyratrons cannot be transmitted to the corresponding tubes. The same is the case if S is greater.

10 RPc and R are inserted respectively in the connections Sit and Eli and establish the anode circuits of the secondary and primary thyratrons. It will be assumed that, owing to the higher order of the primary card P, RP is energised:

RPc opens, thus breaking the line'5l6 feedingv the anodes of the thyratrons S (Figure 2b). This is necessary, since the lower card (of smaller index) must leave first and that only the index of the higher card must be kept for comparison in the following cycle with the index on a new card.

RPd, RPe and R811, RSe (upper part of Figure 2a) are alternating contacts which control the feeding of the cards as follows: in the case of equality of the indices PS, none of the relays RP and RS is energised; PM and RSd remain in the position shown in the drawing; the current set up by CGH feeds the relay 334. The latter closes its contacts 334a, b, 0. so that CG5 is able to feed simultaneously the electromagnets EAP and EAS through the riders 4H, 444 and the lines EAP and 'EAS. Thus, the cards P and S are fed forward simultaneously.

On the other hand, 334 also opens its contact 334] (lower part of Figure 2a), whereby the anode feed of the primary and secondary thyratrons is cut off since no stored index is to be kept for this cycle.

In the case of primary superiority: RP is energised, RPd opens and RPe closes. The current supplied by 0G4 then feeds the relay 339 and on closing of its contacts 339a, 339b, 3390, 0G5 can feed the electromagnet EAS through the rider 494 and the line EAS, whereby the secondary cards are fed forward.

In the case of secondary superiority: RS is energised, RSd opens and RS6 closes. The current supplied by CG4 then feeds the relay 335 and on closing of its contacts 335a, 335b, 3350, CGS can feed the electromagnet EAP through the rider 45] and the line EAP, whereby the primary cards are fed forward.

The advantages of the polarisation system employed will clearly be seen on consideration of the operation of the tubes VP and V5 with the aid of concrete examples. If a suitable given positive voltage is applied to the grid of VP alone, the reduction of grid polarisation resulting therefrom produces an increase in the anode delivery of VP and therefore an increase in the potential difference across the terminals of 510. However, owing to a phenomenon identical to that known as total negative feedback in alternating current voltage amplifiers, this increase in potential difference across the terminals of 510 produces a further negative grid polarisation, which tends to reduce the anode delivery of VP, but to a less extent than the increase due to the grid voltage varying positively alone. Similarly, the potential of the cathode VS being higher than in the inoperative position, the anode delivery of VS decreases, which results in further limitation of the potential difference across the terminals of 510. Finally, a state of equilibrium is set up in which the delivery of VP is increased and the delivery of VS reduced to the point where the latter can even be completely cancelled out. It is found in this case that the difference in anode deliveries obtained is maximum and that, on the other hand, the total current delivered by the two tubes is substantially the same as in the inoperative position, which would not have been the case if the two tubes had been inoperative, and separately polarised in fixed fashion.

If now thesaid given positive voltage is simultaneously applied to the grids of VP and VS, the effect of total negative feedback takes eifect on the two tubes and the increase in the cathode voltage prevents an excessive increase in the feeds.

Finally, for the same reason, when for example a positive voltage of 27 volts is applied to the grid of one of the tubes and one of 24 volts is applied to the grid of the other tube (which corresponds to a comparison of 9+8), the effectiveness of the system is not reduced,

but the risks of saturation of the core of the i relay are thus avoided.

The operation of the arrangement and of the machine according to the first embodiment can now be examined.

It will be assumed that the machine has been started in the manner hereinbefore indicated and that it is in the second cycle, that is to say, in the cycle in which a primary card P and a secondary card S are passing to the reading position BF! and BSI. It will be remembered that the reading of the secondary card S is effective, since BPI is not in circuit (Figure 21)). Assuming that 45 is the index on the secondary card, at the points 5 and 4 of the cycle the thyratrons T4S (tens) and TS5 (unitsi become a vary, a higher delivery of the anode of VS and a lower delivery of that of VP are immediately setup, the blade 50! is attracted to the right and the rod 502 closes the contact 50011 (see dotted line), whereby RS is energised and the holding of RS, the breaking of the grid circuits of VP and VS, the cutting-01f of the anode feed of the primary thyratrons (without effect for the moment), and finally the opening of RSd and the closing of RSe are brought about, and

consequently, due to the energisation of the relay 335 the feed of the electromagnet EAP is determined during the closing of C64 and (3G5, that is to say, shortly before the point at which the primary and secondary shafts stop. Thus, the forward feeding of the primary cards is prepared for the following cycle, the thyratrons T4S.D and T5S.U remaining nevertheless operative.

In the third cycle, the first secondary card remains in position, that is to say, shortly before BS2, while the first primary card passes under BP2 and is therefore effectively read. It will be assumed that the index on the primary card is 12. During the reading, the thyratrons T'IP (tens) and TZP (units) will be set in operation in the manner already indicated.

When, after the point I3, CGRD and CGSD close, the positive voltage proportional to 7 is transmitted to the grid of VP, while the positive voltage proportional to 4 is transmitted to the grid of VS. The superiority of the primary index results in the attraction of the blade 59| to the left, which produces, through the closing of 5001), the energization of RP and then its holding by RPa, the breaking of the grid cir- 12 cuits of VP and VS by the opening of RN), and f, the cutting oif of the anode feed of the sec ondary thyratrons by the opening of RFC, and finally the opening of RPd and the closing of RPe, which determines a little later, as already explained, the feeding of the electromagnet EAS. It will readily be seen that the closing of CGP.U and of CGSU (Figure 217) has no effect on the deliveries of VP and VS since the circuits of the connections M3 and 514 are maintained in the broken condition. In the following circuit, therefore, the secondary cards are fed forward, and a second secondary card is read, and compared with the index previously stored of a pri mary card. Thus, the separate and alternate feed of the primary and secondary cards continue automatically as long as inequality between the indices is detected. that for indices containing a larger number of digits, that is B in the embodiment under consideration, the operation would be absolutely equivalent to that just described.

A second embodiment of the storage and comparing arrangement, again applied to the same collating machine, will now be described.

Examination of Figures 3a and 3b shows that the circuits for reading (lower part of Figure 3a) starting the machine and controlling the feed (lower part of Figure 3b) are identical to those of the first embodiment. Similarly, the storage and comparing circuits taken individually, are identical to the preceding circuits. The difference in the embodiment as compared with the first embodiment resides mainly in that the process of comparison is different from the first. In the present case, all the unit orders of the primary and secondary indices can be compared simultaneously, in the same way as in the initial machine described in the prior patent specification hereinbefore referred to.

With this process, it is possible to compare indices comprising any number of unit orders provided that the machine is provided with an equivalent number of storage and comparing groups. This number is therefore limited only by the maximum magnitude of the indices to be compared.

As in the case of the first embodiment, only the circuits for comparing the order of the units (Figure 3a) and the order of the tens (Figure 3b) have been shown, because the understanding of the embodiment would not be further facilitated by the illustration of the circuits for the higher orders.

It will be seen that the storage circuits are again connected to the reading circuits in the same manner by the plug connections 504, 505, 586, 507, that the anode feed of the primary and secondary thyratrons is effected respectively by the fixed connections 515 and SIS, and finally that the common grid return of the thyratrons again takes place at the terminal Pol by the connection 598. There is now a comparison circuit associated with each primary and secondary storage group for each unit order.

The elements composing the storage and comparing circuits are the same as before except for the following points:

The cam-operated contacts by which the grids of the pentodes are connected to the cathode resistances of the thyratrons form part of separate circuits. There are therefore two camoperated contacts CGRU and CGSU for the order of the units, and two cam-operated contacts CGRDand CGSD for the order of the tens, and

It will be obvious so on. The circuits between the grids and the cathodes are only broken by the said cam-operated contacts. These contacts, the cams of which are synchronised with the other distributing members, all close at the same time between the points 12 and 13 of the cycle (see Figure and remain closed until a short time after the point 15, which coincides with the closing and opening points of 0G5.

The pentodes of the circuit for comparing the units bear the references VUP and VUS (primary and secondary units), while VDP and VDS similarly apply to those for the primary tens and secondary tens, and so on for the other unit orders. The comparison relays bear the references RPU (primary units), RSU (secondary units), RPD (primary tens), RSD (secondary tens) and so on. They are energised on the primary side by the closing of the contacts 5001) and on the secondary side by the closing of 500a. The holding circuits are no longer required, and the contacts breaking the anode feed circuits of the thyratrons are no longer controlled by the comparison relays, but by the relays 335 and 339 (Figure 31)). Thus, Figure 3b shows the contact "If cutting of! the anode feed of the primary thyratrons when the feed of the secondary thyratrons is higher, and the contact 339! cutting off the anode feed of the secondary thyratrons when the feed of the primary thyratron is higher.

Finally, each pair of comparison relays, such I asRPU and RSU or RDP and RSD controls the movement of a pair of alternating contacts such as REUa, b RSU, b etc. (Figure 3b), which combine to form a chain having one input and three outputs identical to that described in the aforesaid patent application. This chain of alternating contacts ensures, on the simultaneous comparison of all the primary and secondary unit orders, priority of the highest order where an inequality is detected.

The process of reading and storing does not differ from that previously described. On the other hand, comparison takes place simultaneously over all the unit orders, as already stated.

In fact, on the closing, at the point 12 of the cam-operated contacts such as CGRU, CGSU, etc., the positive voltages which may exist across the terminals of the cathode resistances of the thyratrons are simultaneously applied to the grids of the pentodes respectively associated therewith. Some of the comparison relays RPU, RSU, RPD and RSD are, and remain, energised and those which are energised open their contact a and close their contact b. If some comparison groups of higher order have not been used, or if, in being so, they have determined an equality of the highest digits, the current set up by 0G4 towards the point l-3 follows the succession of closed contacts a until it finds one which is open and the corresponding closed contact b. According to whether it is a contact controlled by a primary or secondary relay which has been moved, it is the relay 339 or the relay 335 which is energised, and it is known that this results in the forward feed of the secondary or primary cards at the end of the cycle. Previously, the anode feed of the appropriate group of thyratrons is cut off either by 3351 or by 33% in the case of inequality, or the anode feed of the two groups is cut off by 3341 in the case of complete equality of the primary and secondary indices. The further operation is similar to that'described with reference to the first embodiment. It will be noted that the present 14 storage and comparing arrangement may be readily and advantageously adapted to a machine dealing with cards on which the indices are rep-- resented in each column by one or more holes positioned in accordance with the code. Reference is made inter alia to the known cards comprising only four indicating positions to which the values 1 to 4 respectively are allocated. One or more perforations are then necessary to represent the digits 1 to 9 in accordance with the following code:

Perforations punched in the positions Digits no perforations.

This application only involves the reduction of the number of thyratrons required for one recording group. There are only four thyratrons for each primary or secondary group, these thyratrons having allocated to them the values 1 to 4, while the elements thereof (cathode and anode resistances) retain the values indicated with reference to the first embodiment. It will be appreciated that since there are one or more perforations to each card column, one or more thyratrons may be set in operation in the course of the analysis of one column.

For example, in the case of the analysis of the digit '7, the thyratrons 4 and 3 are set in operation and deliver respectively currents proportional to 4 and to 3. Since these currents both pass through the common resistance RK, the potential difference set up across the terminals of this resistance is proportional to their sum, that is to say, to 7. It is therefore clear that the processes of comparison previously dsoribed may remain unchanged. The advantages of this method reside in a considerable reduction of the number of recording thyratrons and an increase in the output of the machine since the recording phase only necessitates 4 points of the cycle of the machine instead of 10.

Although the embodiments described concern the use of perforated cards, it is obvious that the present storag and comparing arrangement could be employed to deal with cards bearing marks or impressions to be analysed photo-electrically, or by other known means, since it is suflicient for the reading devices to be adapted for supplying time-regulated impulses to the grids of the storing thyratrons.

Iclaim:

1. In a cyclically operable card controlled machine with means for feeding and reading cards bearing numerical control data, a pair of storage units for storing control data from said cards, each storage unit comprising a distributor device and circuit connections, a series of gaseous discharge tubes adapted separately to be rendered conductive by means of a reading impulse from said reading means and said distributor device and connections, a common cathode resistance for all the tubes of a unit, separate anode load resistances, one for each tube, for determiningacross said common cathode resistance, when one tube has been rendered conductive, a data representing voltage different in relation to the.

ate-now differential timing of said reading impulse and.

tothe numerical value of the control data read, data comparing. means comprising two vacuum electron tubes, each associated with one of said recording'units andadapted to be acted upon by said data representing voltage determined inthe associated storage unit, and an electromagnetic controlling device for, controlling the subsequent operation of the machine according to the relationshipv between the respective anode. currents of said two vacuum electron tubes.

2. In a cyclically operable card, collating machine, with means for feeding and reading cards bearing-designation data, two storage units for storingdesignation data from said cards, each storage unitcomprising commutator means operated synchronously with said feeding means, a plurality of gaseous discharge tubes normally extinguished, each tube being assigned to a different index value of the cards and the firing of the tubebeinginitiated when a voltage impulse is applied to its control grid, electric circuit connections between said reading means and the slip ringof said commutator means and between segments of said commutator means and the control grids .of said tubes to transmit to said grids the impulses delivered by said reading means, a loadresistance for each tube, each resistance being'of different value in relation to the index value assigned to each tube, a resistance f012n-- ing-a common output load for all the tubes of a imit, for the generation across said resistance, when anyone of said tubes is fired, a voltage re lated to the magnitude of the index value read as long as the circuitsof the conductive tube are not open, and means common to both storage unitsto sense the relationship between the voltages generated and to control the subsequent operation of the machine according to said relationship.

3. In a card collating machine with means for feeding and reading cards bearing-inultidenominational designation data, two groups of storage units for storing a designation datum, each storage unit comprising commutator means operated synchronously with said feeding means, a plurality of gaseous discharge tubes, each tube being adapted to become conductive when a pulse representative of a read digit of corresponding value is applied to its control grid, electric circuit connections between segments of said commutatormeans and the control grids of said tubes for modifying momentarily the biassing of said grids, a load resistance in the anode circuit of each of said tubes, each resistance being of different-value in relation to the digit assigned'to each tube, a load resistance common to the cathode circuits of the tubesof a unit for generating across said resistance, when anyone of said tubes has become conductive, a voltage in proportion to the magnitude of the digit read as soon as the biassingof the grid ofthe corresponding tube is modified, andineans common to bothstorage units for sensing the relationship between the voltages generated and for controlling the subsequent operation of the machine according to; said relationship.

=4.,In a cyclically operable card collating inachine'w-ith card feeding and reading means for feeding and reading two cards bearing designation data to be compared, two storage units, each comprising a commutator device operated synchronously with said feeding means, a plurality ofgaseous discharge-tubes normally nonconductire; whose control J. gridsv are separately comparing means comprising two vacuum tubes.

with identical operating characteristics, electric circuit connections including said cyclically controlled contacts for applying, in the comparison phase of a cycle, the voltages available at the terminals of saiditwo common resistances to the control grid of each ofsaid vacuum tubes, a differential electromagnetic relay having t\V0 0p-' posed coils respectively'energized by theanode current flows of said vacuum tubes and jointly acting uponitsarmature, said armature occupying a middle positionprior to a comparison or whenthe data compared are equal and occupying one of two positions, removed from said middle position, when the data compared are unequal, and machine control means operating.

according to the. position occupied by said armature.

5. In a cyclically operable card collating machine, with card feeding and reading means for feeding and reading two cards each bearing, a multidenominationalv designation datum; two groups of storage units arranged in pairs, each group being adapted to store one designation datum, and each pair corresponding to a denominational order to be compared, each. storage unit comprising commutator means operated synchronously with said feeding means, a plurality of gaseous discharge tubes, each tube being assigned to become conductive when a pulse representative of a digit of corresponding value isbeing applied to its control grid, electric circuit connections between segments of said oommutator means and the control grids of said tubes for applying said reading pulses to said grids, a load resistance in the anode circuit of each or" said tubes, each resistance being of different value in relation to the digit assigned to each of said tubes, a load resistance common to the cathode circuits of the tubes of a unit, at the terminals of which resistance appears a constant voltage in relation with the magnitude of the digit read as soon as a tube of said unit has received a reading: pulse, data comparing means rendered operative after the reading. phase of a cycle by cyclically controlled contacts, said comparing means comprising two vacuum tubes with identical operating characteristics, electric circuit connections including said cyclically controlled contacts for applying. successively, in .the comparison phase of acycle, the voltages available at the terminals of the pairs of said common cathode resistances to the control grid of each of said vacuum tubes, beginning with the cathode voltagesiappearing at the pairof the highest denominational order, a. differential electromagnetic-relay with two opposed coils respectively energized by the current delivery of said vacuum tubes, a relay armature under control of said coils, said armature assuming one of two shifted positions when said current deliveries are unequal thus manifesting a condition of unequality of the data being compared, two comparing relays, one of which is energized according to'the shifted position assumed :by said. armature, each,

comparing relay opening, when energized, a contact for switching open the anode circuits of the tubes in a group of storage units when inequality of the compared data has been detected.

6. In a cyclically operable card handling machine with card feeding and reading means for feeding and reading two files of cards bearing multidenominational classifying numbers, groups of storage units and associated comparing devices, one group for each denominational order to be compared, one storage unit comprising a pair of storage elements, each storage element comprising a commutator device for conveying timed reading impulses, and a plurality of normally non-conducting thyratrons with circuits adapted to build up a steady voltage difierent according to the timing of the reading impulse which renders conductive the corresponding one of said thyratrons, each comparing device comprising two vacuum tubes with identical operating characteristics, electric circuit connections including cyclically actuated contacts for applying the steady voltages built upon the circuits of a pair of storage elements separately to the control grids of the two associated vacuum tubes; a diflerential electromagnetic relay with two opposed coils respectively energized by the anode current deliveries of said vacuum tubes; a relay armature under control of said coils and arranged to assume one of two shifted positions when said anode current deliveries are unequal thus manifesting a condition of inequality of the compared digits of a denominational order, a pair of comparing relays, one of which is energized according to the shifted position assumed by said armature, and chain circuits of pairs of change-over contacts controlled by associated pairs of related comparing relays for energizing one of three controlling relays according to one condition of equality and two conditions of inequality manifested in the highest denominational orders of the numbers compared.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 5, in which, in the case of a condition of inequality, one of two of said last mentioned controlling relays controls one contact for cutting off the anode circuits of the thyratrons of the storage elements assigned to store classifying numbers read from a predetermined file of cards.

KNUI ANDREAS KNUTSEN.

No references cited. 

